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Materials World September 2011

News this issue looks at a new system for biosensor implants being developed to gather data from within the human body, a manufacturing method for high surface areas of nanostructured films in fuel cells and supercapacitors, and a bioremediation technique to turn contaminated soil into plant-friendly earth.

We also find out how a better understanding of titanium’s properties has helped the recovery of the light metal via a report from the recent World Titanium Conference in China, and discover that surviving in the extreme environment of Antarctica
depends on the capability of the technology used, as well as human endurance.

This month's features examine the skill required to manufacture attractive hand-made tiles and also look at strong natural fibres in construction. As Libya looks to be finally liberated from the Gadaffi regime we review its changing oil industry over the decades and ask what's in store for the future.

The Material Matters column extols the virtues of conferences as a means of sharing and expanding professional experience, and books reviewed this issue include Copper Alloys for Marine Environments and High Energy Ball Milling: Mechanochemical Processing of Nanopowders. 

 

News

Where there’s a chill... Engineering challenges in Antarctica

Antarctic field clothing – Dr Claire Lehman on a recreational crevasse visit during field training close to Rothera Research Station on Adelaide Island just off the Antarctic Peninsula. Image courtesy of Pete Bucktrout (BAS)
Mike Rose, of the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, UK, talks to Materials World about engineering and endurance on the world’s coldest continent.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Titanium promise

The titanium industry has been hit hard since the last World Titanium Conference in Japan back in 2007. Professor Malcolm Ward-Close reports that the production figures presented at the recent event in Beijing indicate a strong recovery and an active research community.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Mill scale forms electromagnetic shield

Building waste could hold the key to effective electromagnetic shielding, say scientists at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

From sludge oil to good soil

A bioremediation technique capable of restoring oil-contaminated soil to a state suitable for plant growth has been developed by Lithuanian company Biocentras.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Exercising control on coatings

Researchers at the University of Southampton, UK, have developed a different approach to manufacturing nanonstructured films that uses a surfactant as a template to control the formation of a nanoporous coating.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

A platform for bioimplants

Researchers at Imperial College London, UK, are developing a generic network ‘platform’ for bioimplants that aims to solve the key problems of data gathering and battery replacement.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Features

At sea - professional development in petroleum and drilling engineering

oil rig
The youngest division of IOM3 is Petroleum & Drilling Engineering. Martin Cox, division member and Chair of IMMa discusses the professional development of this burgeoning industry.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Oil in Libya

Libya sand dunes
Michael Forrest talks to Professor Richard Moody and Dr Danny Clark-Lowes about the Libyan oil industry and its future.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

When buildings are too safe

Professor Mark G Stewart from the University of Newcastle, Australia reports on a study into the strength of clay brick masonry which suggests that current design standards in Australia are overly conservative, and that efficiency and cost savings could be achieved if these are relaxed.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Building in natural strengths - natural fibre composite materials

lamb
Chartered Architect John Hutchinson takes a look at the development of strong natural fibre composite materials and their potential commercial application in the construction industry. 
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Taking the heat out of bricks - unfired clay building materials

"London" bricks
Dr Jonathan Oti from the University of Glamorgan looks at the development of unfired clay building materials for sustainable building construction.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Ambient ageing and medium density fibreboard

planks of mdf
Zhenhua Gao of the Northeast Forestry University, China, discusses the ambient ageing of wood fibres and its effect on medium density fibreboard panels.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Unique beauty - hand made clay roofing tiles

hand-making tiles
Neil Tobin, Managing Director at Keymer Tiles and Chairman of ICTa, describes the manufacturing skills that lie behind the natural beauty of hand made clay roofing tiles.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Material Matters

Mind the gap - the usefulness of conferences to experience

Attending a conference or presenting a paper of your own is one of the best ways to share experience, says Materials World's regular columnist.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Book reviews

Wood-based Panels: an Introduction for Specialists

Wood-based Panels: an Introduction for Specialists

Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011
Copper Alloys for Marine Environments

Copper Alloys for Marine Environments

Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011
Failure Mechanisms of Advanced Welding Processes

Failure Mechanisms of Advanced Welding Processes

Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011